Timer



H. T. PEHR TIMER March 31,y 1953 Filed Aug. l5, 1949 Patented Mar. 31, 1953 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in timers for automatically opening and closing an electric circuit at predesignated times and has particular relation to such devices as are operated by a clockworks and associated mechanism.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved timer adapted to be plugged into a conventional type electrical outlet and having means for automatically opening and closing the circuit to a radio, lamp or other appliance attached thereto.

Another object of this invention is to produce a timer which will employ a conventional spring or electrically operated clockwork mechanism and associated mechanism of very simple construction.

Another object is to provide a timer which can be incorporated into the conventional type spring operated alarm clock, without interfering with its conventional use as an alarm clock.

Another object of this invention is to produce a timer which will be very inexpensive to manufacture, yet accurate and durable.

These and other objects and advantages will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings.

The invention comprises the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims. The presently preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed in the accompanying drawings and will be herein described, by way of exemplication only, the invention being limited in its embodiments only by the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an isometric View of a timer ernbodying the invention, showing the method of employment with a radio.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the same timer.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical section along line 3-3 of Fig. 1, parts being broken away.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view along line 4-4 of Fig. 2, parts being broken away and parts in central section.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary isometric view of parts of the timer mechanism, as viewed from the rear, parts being broken away.

Figure 6 is a detail central section of parts of the mechanism which opens the electric circuit.

The preferred embodiment of this invention comprises a conventional spring-operated alarm clock I0 with associated mechanism. However,`

my invention is equally applicable to an electrically operated clock. The clockwork mechanism is conventional and is not shown. The face I I of clock I0 has the conventional hour and minute dial I2 and alarm dial I3. and also has a third dial I4. Mechanism, hereinafter described. is associated with dial I3 and serves to close or makey an electrical circuit. Other mechanism hereinafter described is associated with dial I4 and serves to open or break the circuit. An electrical outlet I5 is mounted on the side of clock is and an insulated wire I6 runs from outlet I5 to plug il. A second insulated wire I8 connects outlet i5 with permanent magnet I9 which is mounted on the back of face II and insulated therefrom by means of insulation 20. A third wire 2! runs from plug I1 to a second permanent magnet 22, thereby completing the wiring circuit except for the gap between magnets I9 and `22, as shown in Fig. 4. This gap is opened and closed by the make and break mechanism hereinafter described. i

The make mechanism employs the conventional alarm mechanism, consisting of dial I3, indicator 23, shaft 24, knurled knob 25, cam 26, gear 2l and band spring 28. Indicator 23 and cam 26 are both rigidly mounted on shaft 24 so that when the shaft is rotated by means of knob 25, both cam 28 and indicator 23 rotate likewise. Gear 2l and band spring 28 ride on shaft 24 but do not rotate with it. Band spring 28 is riveted to the clockwork frame at 28. Gear 2'I meshes with idler 46 which in turn meshes with driving gear 45 which is activated by the clockworks, thereby rotating `gear 21. The above conventional mechanism I have added the following. An arm 3@ of insulating material is bolted to the free end of spring 28 by means ofl nut 3| and bolt 32, and is disposed at substantially a right angle thereto. Magnet 22 is rigidly mounted in a hole in the thickened portion 33 of arm 38, so that a portion cf the magnet extends out from both sides of the arm.

Cam 26 has a cut away slot 34. Gear 21 has a finger Sii stamped out of the gear so as to project in front of the gear. Finger 35 normally rides on the rear face of cam 26, in such position that the gear is forced against spring 28 so as to maintain the spring in a bent position. However when gear 2l is rotated by the clockwork mechanism so that finger 35 coincides with slot 34 in cam 26, the gear is then free to move forward against the cam. This releases the pressure on spring 2S which straightens out, thereby carrying forward with it the arm '30. This brings magnet 22 in contact with magnet I9, completing the wiring circuit. After an interval of time depending on the size of slot 34, gear 21 will rotate suiiiciently to cam iinger 35 out of slot 34, thereby again forcing gear 21 backward on shaft 24 and bending spring 28. This would break the circuit except for the attraction between magnets I9 and 22, which keeps the circuit closed until opened by the break mechanism.

The break mechanism is somewhat similar to the make mechanism. Indicator 36 and cam 31 are rigidly mounted on shaft 38 so that they rotate with it when it is turned by means of knurled knob 39. Gear ll!) and band spring 4I ride freely on shaft 38, spring Ill being riveted to clockwork frame at 42. Gear 40 has an integral collar 43 having a cut away slot 1M. Gear 43 is driven by the clockwork mechanism through the medium of driving gear 45, idler d6 and idler 4l. An arm t8 of insulating material is bolted Vtothe free end of spring il! by means of bolt 419 and nut 5o and is disposed at substantially a right angle to spring 4I.

Finger l on cam 37 normally rides on the rear face of collar 43 in such position that gear 40 is lforced against spring 4i, maintaining the spring in a bent position. However, when gear G3 is rotated by the clockwork mechanism so that finger 5! coincides with slot te, the gear is free to move backward, releasing the pressure on spring 4I, which straightens out, carrying arm e backward with it. This causes the free end of arm d8 to press against the iree end of arm 30. The pressure of arm 48 is greater than the attraction of the magnets I9 and 22, breaking contact between the magnets and carrying arm 30 backward until the rear face of magnet 22 is attracted to magnet 52, holding arm 3c in the rearward position and breaking the wiring circuit. Magnet 52 is mounted on insulated arm 53 l which is rigidly secured to the clockwork frame.

After an interval of time depending on the size of slot :lli gear @t will rotate sufliciently to ,cam iinger El out of slot d4, thereby again forcing gear d forward on shaft 33, and bending spring di forward, carrying with it arm 48.

As -shown by the drawings, my invention does not interfere with the operation of the conventional alarm. When alarm button 5d is raised,

-clapper arm 55 is unlocked by conventional means not shown, so that when latch 56 moves forward with band spring 28, the clapper arm 55 is released permitting clapper 5l to strike bell 58 in the conventional manner.

rIhe `device is operated as follows: Plug IT is inserted or plugged in a conventional electrical outlet receptacle 59. A radio 5i] or other electrically-operated appliance or device is plugged into outlet l5. Indicator 23 is rotated to indicate the time at which it is desired to close the electrical circuit, so as to turn on the radio. Indicator 36 is then rotated to indicate the time at which it is desired to open the circuit, so as to turn ofi the radio. At the time set by indicator 23 the make mechanism hereinbefore described will close the circuit, turning on the radio. At the timeV set by indicator 35 the break mechanism will open the circuit, turning off the radio.

It should be clear from the above that my in- .'vention is applicable for turning on and oi various other types of electrically-operated devices such as fans, radios, lamps and other such devices. The term appliances is therefore used in the appended claims in a generic sense to include all suchdevices. l It shouldl also be desatar 4 apparent that the make and break mecha nism might also be called a switch i. e. a device for making and breaking a circuit.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

l. A timer of the type described comprising a clockwork mechanism, a magnetic switch, means actuated by said clockwork mechanism for closing said switch at a predesignated time, means actuated by said clockwork mechanism for opening said switch at a predesignated time and electrically conductive means adapted to connect a source of electrical power with an electrical appliance through said switch, whereby an energizing circuit is provided for the appliance which is opened and closed by the switch at predesignated times under control of the clockwork mechanism, and in which said switch-closing means comprises a dial, an indicator adapted to designate a time cn said dial, cam means controlled by said indicator, a gear operatively associated with said cam and driven by said clock- Work mechanism and a resilient arm activated by said cam and gear, whereby at the predesignated time said switch is closed and in which said switch-opening means comprises a second dial, a second indicator adapted to designate a time on said second dial, second cam means controlled said second indicator, a second gear operatively associated with said second cam and driven by said clockwork mechanism and a second resilient arm activated by said second cam and second gear whereby at the predesignated time said switch is opened, and said switch comprises an insulated arm attached to said resilient arm, a magnetic contact member carried by said insulated arm, a second magnetic contact member in fixed position to one side of said insulated arm and adapted to make contact with said magnetic contact member, a third magnet in fixed position to the opposite side of said insulated arm and also adapted to make contact with said contact member, and a second insulated arm attached to said second resilient arm and operatively associated with said rst insulated arm.

2. A timer of the type described comprising a housing, a plurality of electrically conductive members carried by said housing and adapted to be connected with a source of electrical power, an electrical outlet in said housing, a clockwork mechanism in said housing, an alarm mechanism, an electrical circuit connecting said members and said outlet, means for simultaneously actuating said alarm mechanism and closing said circuit actuated by said clockworks, magnetic means for releasably maintaining said circuit closed, circuit-opening means activated by said clockworks, magnetic means for releasably maintaining said circuit open, whereby connection of said members to a source of electrical power provides a circuit for energizing an electrical appliance connected with said outlet which is closed v adapted to indicate a selected time on said dial,

cam means controlled by said indicator, a gear operatively associated with said cam and driven 'by said clockwork mechanism and a circuitclosing arm activated by said cam and gear, whereby at the selected time said alarm is activated and said circuit is closed and said circuitopening means comprising a second dial, second indicator adapted to indicate a selected time on said second dial, second cam means controlled by said second indicator, a second gear operatively associated with said second cam and driven by said clockwork mechanism and a circuit-opening arm activated by said second cam and second gear, whereby at the selected time said Acircuit is opened.

3. A timer of the type described comp-rising a clockwork mechanism, an alarm mechanism, an electric switch, means actuated by said clockwork mechanism fcr simultaneously actuating said ala'rm mechanism and closing said switch at a predesignated time, means for prohibiting the `actuation of said alarm mechanism while permitting the closing of said switch, and means actuated by said clockwork mechanism for opening said switch at a predesignated time, and in which said alarm-operating and switch-closing means comprises a dial, an indicator adapted to designate a time on said dial, cam means controlled by said indicator, a gear operatively associated with said cam and driven by said clockwork mechanism, and a resilient arm activated by said cam and gear, said switch-opening means comprises a second dial, a second indicator adapted to designate a time on said second dial, second cam means controlled by said second indicator, a second gear operatively associated with said second cam and driven by said clockwork mechanism and a second resilient arm actuated by said second cam and second gear, and said switch comprises an insulated arm attached to said resilient arm, a magnetic contact member carried by said insulated arm, 'a xed second magnetic contact member positioned to one side of said insulated arm and adapted to make contact with said magnetic member, a third magnet in xed position to the opposite side of said insulated arm and also adapted to make contact with said contact member, and a second insulated arm attached to said second resilient arm and operatively associated with said first insulated arm.

4. A timer of the type described comprising a clockwork mechanism, an electrical switch, switch-closing means comprising a dial, an indi- 6 1 cator adapted to designate a time on said dia, cam means controlled by said indicator, a gear operatively associated with said cam and driven by said clockwork mechanism and a resilient arm yactivated by said cam and gear, switch-opening means comprising a second dial, a second indicator adapted to designate a time on said second dial, second cam means controlled by said second indicator, a second gear operatively associated with said second cam and driven by said clockwork mechanism and a second resilient arm activated by said second cam and second gear, said switch comprising an insulated arm xedly attached to said resilient arm, a magnetic contact member carried by said insulated arm, a second magnetic vcontact member in xed position to one side of said insulated arm and adapted to make contact with said rst contact member, a third magnet in xed position to the opposite side .of said insulated arm and also adapted to make contact with said first contact member, and a second insulated arm iixedly attached to said second resilient arm and operatively associated with said first insulated arm, and electrically conductive means adapted to connect a source of electrical power with an electrical appliance through said switch, whereby an energizing circuit is provided for the appliance which is opened and closed by the switch at predesignated times under control of the clockwork mechanism.

' HAROLD T. PEHR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,780,752 Kinney et al, Nov. 4, 19310 V1,976,953 Mantz Oct. 16, 1934 2,201,048 Moore May 14, 1940 2,302,250 Penn Nov. 17, 1942 2,361,238 Rader Oct. 24, 1944 2,458,853 Hughes Jan. 11, 1949 

